In vitro inhibition of Escherichia coli O157:H7 by bifidobacterial strains of human origin

The ability of bifidobacteria isolated from infant feces to inhibit enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7 in vitro and reduce its adhesion to human enterocyte-like Caco-2 cells was evaluated in comparison to American Type Culture Collection bifidobacterial reference strains. Five Bifidobacterium isolates from infant feces were identified and characterized by morphology, fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase (F6PPK) assay, polymerase chain reaction using bifidobacterial 16S rDNA specific primers, carbohydrate fermentation patterns, resistance to lysozyme, acid, bile and hydrogen peroxide as well as their ability to inhibit E. coli O157:H7 using the agar spot technique. Infant isolates showed greater resistance to bile, acid, lysozyme and more antimicrobial activity against E. coli O157:H7 than ATCC strains. Two infant isolates identified as B. bifidum RBL 71 and B. bifidum RBL 460 showed good adhesion and significant potential for reducing adhesion of E. coli O157:H7 to Caco-2 cells. This effect was dependent on bifidobacterial cell concentration. These results show that bifidobacteria isolated from infants may be useful for improving probiotic formulae with respect to protection against E. coli O157:H7 infection.     

2’-岩藻基乳糖对益生菌定殖及抗炎能力的影响

目的:探究2’-岩藻基乳糖（2’-Fucosyllactose,2’-FL）对乳酸菌和双歧杆菌增殖、粘附肠道细胞以及抗炎作用的影响。方法:以2’-FL和实验室的30株乳酸菌和双歧杆菌为研究对象,通过测定生物量、产酸和细胞粘附倍数的变化筛选出2’-FL可以增强定殖能力的菌株,再利用脂多糖诱导的RAW264.7细胞炎症模型进一步筛选出其中的潜在抗炎菌株,最后探究2’-FL和潜在抗炎菌株的联合抗炎效果。结果:30株实验菌株中,2’-FL仅能促进两歧双歧杆菌FL-276.1和FL-228.1的增殖,提高乳酸菌ML-1、FN515、FN518、FN249、ML329和双歧杆菌FL-276.1粘附Caco-2细胞的能力。其中两歧双歧杆菌FL-276.1、FL-228.1和鼠李糖乳杆菌FN518可以显著（P<0.05）降低脂多糖诱导的Raw264.7细胞炎症因子NO、TNF-α、IL-6和IL-1β的分泌。2’-FL可以显著降低NO、IL-6和IL-1β的分泌。2’-FL与上述3株菌联用具有协同抗炎作用,但协同效果具有菌株差异性,其中FL-276.1与2’-FL协同抗炎效果最好。结论:2’-FL可以提高乳酸菌和双歧杆菌的定殖能力,并协同发挥抗炎功能,但效果具有菌株差异性,这一结果可以为预防早产儿坏死性小肠结肠炎提供新的选择。     

高黏附力双歧杆菌的筛选与鉴定

利用体外细胞培养法,从实验室现有的10株双歧杆菌中筛选具有较强粘附能力的菌株。采用革兰氏染色法和平板计数法,评价了这10株双歧杆菌对HT-29细胞的粘附性能,通过测定这10株双歧杆菌的16S rRNA基因序列(16S rDNA)进行分类学鉴定。结果显示,WBBI01,WBBI02,WBIN03,WBBI06具有极强的黏附力,其黏附指数分别达1.97×103,2.17×103,3.57×103,1.88×103。经16S rDNA测序鉴定WBBI01,WBIN03,WBBI06均与两歧双歧杆菌S17有极高的同源性,而WBBI02属于长双歧杆菌。结果表明,双歧杆菌黏附性能具有明显的种属特异性,不同种属双歧杆菌的粘附能力相差极大,以两歧双歧杆菌的黏附性能最强,婴儿长双歧杆菌为最弱。     

Ability of Lactobacillus gasseri K 7 to inhibit Escherichia coli adhesion in vitro on Caco-2 cells and ex vivo on pigs' jejunal tissue

The ability of Lactobacillus (Lb.) gasseri K 7 to inhibit adhesion of Escherichia coli O8:K88 to intestinal mucosa was studied on cultured Caco-2 cells and ex vivo on pigs' small intestinal tissue. Lactobacilli were added simultaneously with E. coli, before E. coli and after E. coli for competition, exclusion and displacement assays. The concentration of lactobacilli on fully differentiated Caco-2 cells was 4.5+/-0.3 x 10(8) cfu/well, while the concentration of E. coli varied from 1.5 x 10(6) to 4.3 x 10(8) cfu/well. The number of E. coli adhered to Caco-2 monolayer (cfu/well) was lineary correlated (R(2)=0.97) to the concentration of added cells. In the assay simulating exclusion, E. coli adhesion was reduced by Lb. gasseri K 7 strain by 0.1 to 0.6 log cfu/well. The binding of E. coli was inhibited even more when incubated simultaneously with lactobacilli, particularly at the lowest concentration of E. coli (ratio E. coli/lactobacilli 1:248), where five-times reduction (or 0.7 log) was observed. When adhesion to tissue derived from pigs' jejunum was tested, concentration of E. coli was constant (6.9+/-0.14 x 10(7) cfu/ml), while the concentration of Lb. gasseri K 7 was 5.9 x 10(7) and 1.3 x 10(7) cfu/ml in two independent experiments, respectively. The adhesion of E. coli and Lb. gasseri K 7 cells to jejunal mucosa was similar (1.0+/-0.17 x 10(6) and 1.54+/-0.10 x 10(6) cfu/cm(2)) when the concentrations of single strains in suspensions were approximately the same. No significant competition, exclusion or displacement of E. coli by lactobacilli was observed on jejunal tissue. In conclusion, Lb. gasseri K 7 was found to be effective in reducing E. coli adhesion to Caco-2 enterocytes, but it was not able to do so in ex vivo conditions tested for pig jejunal tissue.     

Screening probiotics from Lactobacillus strains according to their abilities to inhibit pathogen adhesion and induction of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8

Probiotics can be screened according to their abilities to inhibit pathogen adhesion and inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Eleven Lactobacillus strains isolated from traditional fermented dairy foods in Xinjiang, China, were studied for their potential to inhibit adhesion of Escherichia coli to intestinal epithelial cells and to inhibit E. coli–induced production of interleukin (IL)-8 by intestinal epithelial cells. The results showed that the 11 strains could inhibit adhesion of E. coli to Caco-2 cell monolayers and inhibit the induction of IL-8 production by E. coli in HT-29 cells. The inhibiting activities of the Lactobacillus strains against E. coli adhesion and IL-8 induction were strain-specific and not positively correlated, whereas the excluding activity of the strains against E. coli adhesion and their coaggregation with E. coli were positively correlated. The effector molecules of the strains with probiotic potential should be identified to explain the mechanism behind these observations.     

The Expression of GroEL Protein Amplified from Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis KLDS 2.0603 and its Role in Competitive Adhesion to Caco-2

Bifidobacteria are beneficial microorganisms dominantly present in the gastrointestinal tract and provide numerous nutritional and health benefits to the host. Colonization to the mucosal surface is the foundation to execute bifidobacterial probiotic functions. Mechanisms of adhesion between bifidobacteria and the host are still not clear; however, the surface-associated proteins of the bacteria play a significant role. In our previous study, GroEL protein was speculated to be participating in the bifidobacterial adhesion to the epithelial cells. In the present work, we have focused on determining the function of GroEL protein in inhibiting the bacterial adhesion to Caco-2 cells. We cloned groEL gene and constructed an expression plasmid pQE-30-groEL. IPTG was used to induct the GroEL protein in Escherichia coli M15 and the GroEL protein was purified by affinity chromatography. Results showed that the recombinant GroEL protein inhibited bacteria bound to Caco-2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Above all, GroEL was indicated to be an adhesion factor in bifidobacteria.     

In vitro fermentability of human milk oligosaccharides by several strains of bifidobacteria

This study was conducted to investigate the catabolism and fermentation of human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) by individual strains of bifidobacteria. Oligosaccharides were isolated from a pooled sample of human milk using solid-phase extraction, and then added to a growth medium as the sole source of fermentable carbohydrate. Of five strains of bifidobacteria tested (Bifidobacterium longum biovar infantis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium longum biovar longum, Bifidobacterium breve, and Bifidobacterium adolescentis), B. longum bv. infantis grew better, achieving triple the cell density then the other strains. B. bifidum did not reach a high cell density, yet generated free sialic acid, fucose and N-acetylglucosamine in the media, suggesting some capacity for HMO degradation. Thin layer chromatography profiles of spent fermentation broth suggests substantial degradation of oligosaccharides by B. longum bv. infantis, moderate degradation by B. bifidum and little degradation by other strains. While all strains were able to individually ferment two monosaccharide constituents of HMO, glucose and galactose, only B. longum bv. infantis and B. breve were able to ferment glucosamine, fucose and sialic acid. These results suggest that as a potential prebiotic, HMO may selectively promote the growth of certain bifidobacteria strains, and their catabolism may result in free monosaccharides in the colonic lumen.     

Bifidobacterium bifidum exhibits a lipopolysaccharide-like mitogenic activity for murine B lymphocytes.

To determine the role of bifidobacteria in the systemic and mucosal antibody response, we examined the direct modulatory effect of bifidobacteria on the synthesis of antibodies by murine spleen B cells. Whole spleen B cells were cultured with Bifidobacterium bifidum or Clostridium perfringens (Welch's bacilli, negative control), and antibody synthesis was measured by ELISA and enzyme-linked immunospot assay. The B. bifidum, but not C. perfringens, substantially increased total secretion of major immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes and the number of IgA-secreting cells. In addition, B. bifidum increased proliferation of spleen cells by threefold, and C. perfringens had little to diminishing effect on the cells. These results indicate that B. bifidum increased Ig synthesis through its mitogenic influence on B cells. Further, B. bifidum induced spleen B cells to be reactive to transforming growth factor-beta 1 and interleukin-5 and resulted in increased surface IgA expression (approximately threefold) and total IgA production (> 20-fold) but not increased production of IgM and IgG2a isotypes. Together, these studies indicate that B. bifidum can act as a lipopolysaccharide-like polyclonal activator for B cells. Furthermore, that bifidobacteria enable B cells to respond to transforming growth factor-beta 1 and interleukin-5 for the IgA production has important implications for the primary defense against pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract.     

In vitro adherence properties of Lactobacillus rhamnosus DR20 and Bifidobacterium lactis DR10 strains and their antagonistic activity against an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Adhesion and colonisation properties of three probiotic strains namely, Lactobacillus rhamnosus DR20, L. acidophilus HN017, and Bifidobacterium lactis DR10, were determined in vitro using the differentiated human intestinal cell-lines including HT-29, Caco-2, and HT29-MTX, and compared with properties of L. acidophilus LA-1 and L. rhamnosus GG (two commercial probiotic strains). Two independent methods were employed to quantitate the "adhesiveness" of each strain. In the first method, the bacteria adhered to human cells were detected by Gram staining and counted in different fields under a microscope. Bacteria were also radio-labelled and extent of adhesion determined by scintillation counting. All three strains showed strong adhesion with the human intestinal cell lines in vitro. Adhesion indices of the three strains to two cell lines, i.e. HT-29, and Caco-2 varied between 99 +/- 17 and 219 +/- 36. With mucus-secreting cell-line HT29-MTX, the adhesion indices of all the strains were 2-3 times higher. The adhesion indices of L. acidophilus LA-1 and L. rhamnosus GG were comparable to the other three probiotic strains. We also investigated the inhibitory effect of adhering strains against the intestinal cell monolayer colonization by a known enterotoxigenic strain of Escherichia coli (strain O157:H7). Pre-treatment of E. coli O157:H7 with 2.5-fold concentrated cell-free culture supernatants from L. acidophilus HN017, L. rhamnosus DR20 and B. lactis DR10 reduced the culturable E. coli numbers on TSB plates and also reduced the invasiveness and cell association characteristics of this toxic strain. The inhibitory molecules secreted into the spent media by these strains were partially affected by treatments with lactate dehydrogenase, trypsin and proteinase K suggesting that overall inhibition may be due to a synergistic action of lactic acid and proteinaceous substances.     

15株乳酸菌的表面性质及其黏附能力

为了初步探讨乳酸菌的黏附机制,对15株乳酸菌的表面疏水性、自凝聚能力以及体外黏附Caco-2细胞的能力进行了测定,筛选出高黏附性乳酸菌菌株。采用化学试剂和酶处理嗜酸乳杆菌KLDS 1.0901细胞壁表面成分,再经过cFDA-SE荧光标记后,测定其对Caco-2细胞黏附能力的变化,分析影响黏附的主要黏附素。结果表明:嗜酸乳杆菌KLDS 1.0901对Caco-2细胞的黏附率最高,为12.73%;不同乳酸菌之间的表面疏水性、自凝聚能力以及对Caco-2细胞的黏附能力存在差异;经高碘酸钠、苯酚、胃蛋白酶、胰蛋白酶,尤其是氯化锂和热处理,能显著降低KLDS 1.0901的黏附性(p<0.05)。表明KLDS 1.0901对Caco-2细胞的黏附可能是以表层蛋白为主的多种黏附素共同作用的结果。     

植物乳杆菌表面性质及对Caco-2细胞的黏附

通过对10 株不同来源的植物乳杆菌进行自聚集能力、表面疏水性以及体外黏附Caco-2细胞能力的测定,探究植物乳杆菌表面性质与黏附能力之间的关系,利用LiCl对植物乳杆菌进行处理,探究参与植物乳杆菌对细胞黏附过程的物质。结果表明：植物乳杆菌3-4对Caco-2细胞的黏附能力最强。所选的不同植物乳杆菌之间自聚集能力、表面疏水性以及对Caco-2细胞的黏附能力存在差异性;对细胞的黏附能力与表面疏水性存在着显著的相关性（P＜0.05）,因此,自聚集能力和疏水性可以作为筛选具有高黏附细胞能力的植物乳杆菌的参考指标。同时LiCl处理前后,植物乳杆菌自聚集能力和对细胞的黏附能力均有所下降,表明菌株表面蛋白类物质及其他大分子物质均参与自聚集和黏附过程。     

Adhesion and competitive inhibition and displacement of human enteropathogens by selected lactobacilli

Competition with pathogens for adhesion and colonization of the mucosal surfaces are possible protective mechanisms of probiotics. Here, we assessed the adhesive properties and the ability to inhibit the adhesion and to displace pathogens of three selected Lactobacillus strains using Caco-2 cells and a human intestinal mucus model. The adhesion levels showed a great variability, ranging between 1% and 9.7% in the mucus model and between 7.7 and 61.1 bacterial cells/microscopy view in the Caco-2 model. A good correlation between both models was observed. The ability to inhibit the adhesion or to displace adhered pathogens was variable depending on both the lactobacilli and the pathogen tested. The inhibition and displacement profiles were very different suggesting that different mechanisms are implied in both processes. A very high specificity in the inhibition of the adhesion and displacement of enteropathogens by lactobacilli was observed indicating the need for a case-by-case assessment in order to select strains with the ability to inhibit or displace a specific pathogen.     

Viability of probiotic (Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei) and nonprobiotic microflora in Argentinian Fresco cheese

We evaluated the suitability of Argentinian Fresco cheese as a food carrier of probiotic cultures. We used cultures of Bifidobacterium bifidum (two strains), Bifidobacterium longum (two strains), Bifidobacterium sp. (one strain), Lactobacillus acidophilus (two strains), and Lactobacillus casei (two strains) in different combinations, as probiotic adjuncts. Probiotic, lactic starter (Lactococcus lactis and Streptococcus thermophilus), and contaminant (coliforms, yeasts, and molds) organisms were counted at 0, 30, and 60 d of refrigerated storage. Furthermore, the acid resistance of probiotic and starter bacteria was determined from hydrochloric solutions (pH 2 and 3) of Fresco cheese. The results showed that nine different combinations of bifidobacteria and L. acidophilus had a satisfactory viability (count decreases in 60 d <1 log order) in the cheese. Both combinations of bifidobacteria and L. casei cultures assayed also showed a satisfactory survival (counts decreased <1 log order for bifidobacteria but no decrease was detected for L. casei). On the other hand, the three combinations of bifidobacteria, L. acidophilus, and L. casei tested adapted well to the Fresco cheese environment. When a cheese homogenate at pH 3 was used to partially simulate the acidic conditions in the stomach, the probiotic cultures had an excellent ability to remain viable up to 3 h. At pH 2, the cell viability was more affected; B. bifidum was the most resistant organism. This study showed that the Argentinian Fresco cheese could be used as an adequate carrier of probiotic bacteria.     

Survival to different acid challenges and outer membrane protein profiles of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from pozol, a Mexican typical maize fermented food

In this study, the acid resistance and the changes in outer membrane protein (Omps) profiles of Escherichia coli strains isolated from pozol, an acid-fermented maize beverage consumed in Southeastern Mexico, were determined. Results showed that adaptation to acid by these E. coli strains significantly enhances their survival in acid conditions. Changes in Omp profiles were found in non-adapted acid challenged cells compared with non-challenged cells that had not been adapted to acid. Challenged adapted cells showed no significant changes in these profiles when compared with the acid adapted non-challenged strains. N-terminal sequences of some of the Omps were determined. The intensity of the main porins OmpC and OmpA was lower in the acid challenged strains, than in the non-challenged ones. The OmpF porin was identified in non-challenged K12 strain, but did not appear in adapted or non-adapted pozol strains nor in E. coli O157:H7. A protein band with an approximate molecular mass of 22 kDa corresponds to OmpW and its expression decreased in pozol strains challenged with HCl and lactic acid. OmpX was one of the main proteins expressed when strains were acid challenged with organic acids. Seventy out of seventy-three E. coli strains isolated from pozol in a previous work [Sainz, T., Wacher, C., Espinoza, J., Centurion, D., Navarro, A., Molina, J., Cravioto, A., Eslava, C., 2001. Survival and characterization of Escherichia coli strains in a typical Mexican acid-fermented food. International Journal of Food Microbiology 71, 169-176] carry this gene and belong to a reported pathogenic class of E. coli strains, or have virulence factors or survived at pH values less than 4.8. We suggest this protein could be involved in survival to stress conditions.     

副干酪乳杆菌NCU622耐酸耐胆盐及其黏附性能

通过体外实验研究副干酪乳杆菌NCU622的耐酸、耐胆盐性能;采用体外细胞模型（人体结肠腺癌细胞系Caco-2细胞）测定副干酪乳杆菌NCU622的黏附性能,考察了菌体浓度、作用时间及生长阶段对其黏附性能的影响,并对该菌株进行细胞毒性检测。结果表明：副干酪乳杆菌NCU622在pH 2.5的MRS液体培养基中作用3 h,存活率为98.21%;在胆盐质量浓度为0.3、0.5 g/100 mL的MRS液体培养基中作用4 h,存活率分别为95.14%和85.07%。副干酪乳杆菌NCU622对Caco-2细胞的黏附能力较强,为（21.19±0.94）CFU/Caco-2细胞,且菌体浓度、作用时间及生长阶段对其黏附性能均有影响。副干酪乳杆菌NCU622与Caco-2单层细胞共培养24 h后,对其无裂解作用。这表明副干酪乳杆菌NCU622具有良好的耐酸耐胆盐能力及较强的黏附性能,且对Caco-2细胞无裂解作用,符合微生态制剂和乳酸菌发酵功能食品的菌种要求。     

具有抑制肠道致病菌和黏附Caco-2细胞作用的益生性乳酸菌的筛选及鉴定

为了筛选具有肠道益生特性的乳酸菌,进一步开发益生菌资源,本文研究采用牛津杯、人工模拟胃肠液及体外黏附Caco-2细胞等方法,以鼠李糖乳杆菌GG(Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG,LGG)为对照菌株,对实验室保藏15株乳酸菌的益生特性进行筛选与评估。实验结果表明:15株乳酸菌对两株沙门氏菌都具有一定抑制效果,抑菌圈直径为10.95~22.06 mm;乳酸菌C174、D24、D599、C37、D512具有较好的耐酸耐胆盐能力,在人工胃液3 h内存活率达到60%以上,人工肠液4 h内存活率达到80%以上;在黏附试验中,C174对Caco-2细胞具有较强黏附能力,黏附数量为740 CFU/100细胞,略高于对照菌株鼠李糖乳杆菌(543 CFU/100细胞);通过对具有高黏附性的菌株C174进行生理生化和16S rRNA分子测序鉴定,结果表明菌株C174为植物乳杆菌(Lactobacillus plantarum),命名为Lactobacillus plantarum ZJ-174。Lactobacillus plantarum ZJ-174的抑菌能力强、能够耐酸耐胆盐,并具有很强的黏附能力,是一株潜在的益生菌,具有治疗或预防人和动物肠道疾病等应用价值。     

Competitive exclusion of enteropathogens from human intestinal mucus by Bifidobacterium strains with acquired resistance to bile--a preliminary study

The ability to inhibit the adhesion and to displace selected pathogens from human intestinal mucus of two Bifidobacterium strains with acquired resistance to bile, were assessed and compared with those of their bile sensitive original strains. A preliminary characterization of the macromolecules involved in the adhesion was also carried out. The inhibition of adhesion and the displacement of enteropathogens previously adhered were found to be specific, depending on the strains used. The cholate-resistant strain Bifidobacterium bifidum M6dCo, that adhered more to mucus than its original, was able to inhibit the adhesion and to displace pathogens from mucus significantly more than its original cholate-sensitive strain B. bifidum M6. Contrary to this, two strains showing similar adhesion levels, B. bifidum A1 and its bile resistant derivative B. bifidum A1dOx, did not display any differences. Different molecules appear to be involved in the adhesion of the strains B. bifidum M6 and B. bifidum M6dCo. These differences in the cellular surface may explain the differences in competitive exclusion observed between both strains.     

Protective action of Lactobacillus kefir carrying S-layer protein against Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis

Eight Lactobacillus kefir strains isolated from different kefir grains were tested for their ability to antagonize Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (Salmonella enteritidis) interaction with epithelial cells. L. kefir surface properties such as autoaggregation and coaggregation with Salmonella and adhesion to Caco-2/TC-7 cells were evaluated. L. kefir strains showed significantly different adhesion capacities, six strains were able to autoaggregate and four strains coaggregated with Salmonella. Coincubation of Salmonella with coaggregating L. kefir strains significantly decreased its capacity to adhere to and to invade Caco-2/TC-7 cells. This was not observed with non coaggregating L. kefir strains. Spent culture supernatants of L. kefir contain significant amounts of S-layer proteins. Salmonella pretreated with spent culture supernatants (pH 4.5-4.7) from all tested L. kefir strains showed a significant decrease in association and invasion to Caco-2/TC-7 cells. Artificially acidified MRS containing lactic acid to a final concentration and pH equivalent to lactobacilli spent culture supernatants did not show any protective action. Pretreatment of this pathogen with spent culture supernatants reduced microvilli disorganization produced by Salmonella. In addition, Salmonella pretreated with S-layer proteins extracted from coaggregating and non coaggregating L. kefir strains were unable to invade Caco-2/TC-7 cells. After treatment, L. kefir S-layer protein was detected associated with Salmonella, suggesting a protective role of this protein on association and invasion.     

Adhesion of selected Bifidobacterium strains to human intestinal mucus and the role of adhesion in enteropathogen exclusion

The ability of potential probiotic strains to adhere to the intestinal mucosa and exclude and displace pathogens is of utmost importance for therapeutic manipulation of the enteric microbiota. The ability of seven selected human bifidobacterial strains and five human enteropathogenic strains to adhere to human intestinal mucus was analyzed and compared with that of four strains isolated from chicken intestines. The adhesion of the bifidobacterial strains ranged from 3 to 16% depending on the strain. Bifidobacterium strains of animal origin adhered significantly better than did strains of human origin. Of the pathogenic bacteria, Escherichia coli NCTC 8603 had the highest adhesion value (20%), Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 29631, Enterobacter sakazakii ATCC 29544, and Clostridium difficile ATCC 9689 had adhesion values ranging from 10 to 15%, and Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 15313 had the lowest adhesive value (3%). The ability of these bifidobacteria to inhibit pathogen adhesion and to displace pathogens previously adhering to mucus was also tested. The inhibition of pathogens adhesion by these bifidobacterial strains was variable and clearly strain dependent. In general, bifidobacterial strains of animal origin were better able to inhibit and displace pathogens than were human strains. Preliminary characterization of bacterial adhesion was accomplished using different pretreatments to explore adhesion mechanisms. The results indicate that different molecules are implicated in the adhesion of bifidobacteria to the human intestinal mucus, constituting a multifactorial process.     

The effect of calcium ions on adhesion and competitive exclusion of Lactobacillus ssp. and E. coli O138

The adhesion abilities of 11 strains of Lactobacillus were determined in vitro using the IPEC-J2 cell line as a model system. Bacteria cultures included the probiotic strains L. rhamnosus GG, L. reuteri ATCC 55730, L. johnsonii NCC 533 and L. reuteri DSM 12246, and new isolates of Lactobacillus ssp. Adhesion was quantified by scintillation counting of radiolabelled bound bacteria. The highest adhesion of 38%, was determined for L. reuteri DSM 12246 followed by L. plantarum Q47 with an adhesion level of 24%. Other strains showed moderate to low binding of less than 16%. Competitive adhesion experiments on IPEC-J2 cells demonstrated that strongly adhesive strains, as L. reuteri DSM 12246 and L. plantarum Q47, significantly reduced the attachment of the less adhesive strains, such as L. rhamnosus GG and L. johnsonii NCC 533, both under condition of co-incubation and in displacement assays, indicating that bacteria may share the same binding sites for attachment to intestinal cells. Furthermore, it was revealed that calcium ions significantly increased the binding of tested lactobacilli to IPEC-J2 cells; and therefore, added calcium may be useful in enhancing the adhesion of normally weakly adhesive probiotic cultures. In contrast, no significant change in adhesion of lactobacilli was observed in the presence of Mg and Zn ions. Displacement assays performed with pathogenic E. coli O138 showed that all tested Lactobacillus strains reduced the attachment of E. coli O138 to IPEC-J2 by more than 2-fold both in the presence and the absence of calcium ions. The strains of Lactobacillus did not differ significantly in the extent of their inhibition of E. coli O138 adhesion, indicating that the reduced adhesion of E. coli O138 was due to steric hindrance of the binding sites rather than to specific interactions.